NYIT welcomed more than 600 guests to indulge in the world’s finest foods and wines at its ninth annual Gold Coast Classic. The three-day event raised $565,000 to support NYIT student scholarships and academic programs, making it the most successful Gold Coast Classic in the event’s history.

“The generous support of the community helps to bring the ambitions and dreams of an NYIT education to fruition for literally thousands of students,” says Linda Davila (B.S. ’78), NYIT Board of Trustees chair and Gold Coast Classic co-chair.

The celebration kicked off at NYIT’s historic de Seversky Center, where attendees enjoyed a fine selection of culinary delights and wines. Guests also had the opportunity to have books signed by NYIT First Lady Mireille Guiliano, author of the best-selling book, French Women Don’t Get Fat, and Geoffrey Zakarian, chef and author of the cookbook, Town/Country: 150 Recipes for Life Around the Table.

The following night, Zakarian hosted an exclusive wine-tasting event and dinner at his new restaurant, Country, in New York City.

On the final evening at the Rainbow Room in Rockefeller Center, NYIT and Quarterly Review of Wines honored the top members of the food and wine community through its Professional Excellence Awards. Winners included winemaker Gina Gallo of Gallo Family Vineyards, Prince Robert of Luxembourg of Chateau Haut-Brion, and chef and author Charlie Trotter of Charlie Trotter’s, New York City.